Before bargaining started yesterday, our bargaining unit nurses delivered nearly 600 signatures from nurses to Good Samaritan President Jim Beatty. President Beatty was too busy to meet with us and discuss our working conditions, but we delivered the petitions to the Board’s executive assistant.

Almost 80% of us signed the petition, sending a strong message to MultiCare that we need ratios and break nurses in order to care for our patients, ourselves, and our community.

Huge shoutout to Amber Mollet, Ellen Anderson, Sokra Hoy, Adriana Cruson, Eric Page, Angeline Nzuki and Ashley Brunson for delivering our petition!

Tower Expansion Hearing: tell your story!

The Department of Health postponed the hearing regarding the Good Samaritan tower proposal, saying that it needed more information from MultiCare. Stay tuned to find out the rescheduled date. Until then, we are collecting testimony on staffing to present at the hearing – we know there’s a desperate need for more health care resources in East Pierce County; we just want to make sure that MultiCare can staff the tower appropriately when it’s struggling to staff Good Sam. If you have concerns about MultiCare being able to staff the proposed tower safely, please send your statement to Janet at jstewart@wsna.org.

March 20, Session 6 Highlights

While we continue to fight for safe staffing ratios and break nurses, we are working hard to respond to management’s proposals so that the language works for us in a positive way without takeaways. We made it clear that we are expecting wages similar to what Tacoma General received.

We’re still negotiating over the following issues as we strive for the best fair contract: per diem language; defining clinical groups; low census language; float language; seniority; incentive pay; fair and understandable agreements for residents and fellows.

We have proposed new contract language to address prioritizing bargaining unit nurses for scheduling and for incentivized assignments and positions over non-bargaining unit nurses; a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force; a tax-free student loan reimbursement program; a uniform policy which allows us freedom of choice of colors and patterns; float pay when outside your clinical group, and others.

We have quite a bit of contract language to still work through, and not enough space in this communication to explain it all. If you have questions, please speak to a bargaining team member or to WSNA Nurse Representative Janet Stewart at jstewart@wsna.org. Members are welcome to observe the next bargaining sessions.

Two more sessions before our contract expires: come observe on 3/29 and 3/30

Our contract expires on March 31 at midnight. We have two more bargaining sessions until then: Wednesday, March 29, and Thursday, March 30. Come and observe to find out how your team works and what we’re fighting for! This is a great opportunity if you want to find out what happens behind the scenes. Contact Grace at glamonte@wsna.org or text 206-553-9794 if you want to come to one of these next two sessions. We’re working with Management to add additional days if needed.

Join us for Thursday night Sip and Chat at 8:00 p.m. Virtual

Contact your officers or Nurse Representative for the meeting link.

Show your Union Spirit this Friday, March 24

Keep wearing your blue to show management that we’re strong, united, and determined. Wear your WSNA t-shirt this Blue Friday, March 24 (if management tells you to change, ask if you’ll be disciplined if you don’t; if the answer is yes, flip your shirt inside-out, cover parts up with tape, or just change but let Janet know!) Keep the team spirit going strong – wear WSNA blue, blue scrubs, stickers, buttons, badge reels and badge buddies. Our contract is a reflection of our strength and solidarity.

PRIZES will be given for the most creative/most union spirited wearing of the blue.

Show MultiCare our unity and strength as we fight for a fair contract.

In solidarity, your bargaining team:
Mindy Thornton, Jared Richardson, Aaron Bradley, Raeli Korzeniecki, Dawn Morrell, Anne Landen, Eren Dao, Ashley Eubanks, Atalia Lapkin, Erin Butler, and Paul Grantham

Questions/Issues, contact Janet Stewart, WSNA Nurse Representative jstewart@wsna.org.

Need shirts (larger sizes are now available), buttons, stickers, or want to know how to get involved: contact Grace LaMonte, WSNA Organizer glamonte@wsna.org.